GAC-OMA Alliance Proves Equal to Giant Barge Challenge in West Africa

There’s a sea monster
lying in wait at the port of Abidjan – thanks to GAC and its local partner OMA
Ivory Coast.

The massive installation
barge ‘Hyundai 60’ weighs in at 34,125t, is 187m long and is equipped with a
1,800t crane. Until recently, she has been engaged in pipe-laying and offshore
installation works off the coast of Escravos, with GAC Nigeria providing a
range of ship agency, husbandry and logistics services for her and her
attendant fleet of support vessels.

The barge was then
demobilised and moved to Abidjan for maintenance work while she’s being held in
stand-by until she is needed for the next phase starting in October. Upon
arrival, GAC worked with TRACE-certified local partner OMA Ivory Coast to
provide the range of agency, supplies, crew and logistics support the ‘Hyundai
60’ needed for her stay in port. The team has also been entrusted with the
demobilisation and export of a 300t hydraulic hammer later this month.

Size matters

The barge had to be
carefully manoeuvred into Abidjan’s inner anchorage, taking into account strong
currents and high voltage electrical cables crossing the channel at 66m (the
air draft of the ‘Hyundai 60’ is just 58m, leaving very little room for error).
OMA Ivory Coast co-ordinated with Abidjan port pilots, and arranged tugboats
and a power shutdown to ensure that the operation was completed safely and
efficiently.

Winning combination

Erland Ebbersten, GAC
Group Vice President for Africa, Russia & Central Asia says the winning
combination of GAC and OMA helped smooth out all potential problems and deliver
safe and streamlined handling of the massive vessel.

"GAC & OMA’s ability
to work together to offer common services in West Africa ensured continuity and
peace of mind for the principal who appointed GAC to handle the barge,” he
adds. "Our appointment to take care of the ‘Hyundai 60’ serves as a timely
reminder that through co-operation with our strategic network partner, OMA, we
can provide prompt, value-for-money solutions to meet the sometimes complex
requirements of our customers operating in West Africa.

"For those who know and
trust GAC services, it brings the added advantage and comfort of effectively
only having to work with a single service provider, and knowing that the very
high operational standards set by GAC will be met.”

The GAC-OMA team are already
preparing for the barge’s remobilisation in September to return to Nigeria for
the second phase of operations. That will include taking care of all the
formalities for 300 workers who will be brought in to work on the ‘Hyundai 60’
as well as clearance and delivery of ship spares and project equipment to
prepare for the task ahead.